How to Use Micro-Contracts to Take Partials With Small Accounts

Many traders skip the first take profit because they only hold one contract. That undermines the plan. The first take profit is where we secure the trade by moving the stop to entry on the remainder. Micro-contracts solve this.

Rule of thumb: 1 E-mini = 10 Micros
ES ↔ MES. NQ ↔ MNQ. YM ↔ MYM. RTY ↔ M2K. CL ↔ MCL. GC ↔ MGC. SI ↔ SIL.
If you cannot split one E-mini into five partial exits, you can do it with Micros.

Why this matters to traders, and especially to day traders

1. You keep the discipline of the plan. You still take TP1 even with a small account.

2. You reduce regret. You stop watching TP1 hit and pass while you do nothing.

3. You keep flexibility. You can scale out in steps without oversizing.

Two practical methods for trading Emini and Micro contracts

Method A. Convert to Micros at TP1

Use when you want the main position to flip to Micros after the first exit.

Steps

1. At TP1, close the single E-mini.

2. Immediately re-enter with 8 Micros in the same direction to keep about 80 percent exposure.

3. Scale out 2 Micros at each remaining target until flat.

Why it works
You book TP1 properly. You still participate in the move with controlled size. You can match any 5-target plan.

Method B. Hedge with Micros while keeping the E-mini

Use when you want to keep the original E-mini open the whole time.

Steps

1. Keep the 1 E-mini running.

2. At each target, offset 20 percent by trading 2 Micros the other way.
   • Long trade example: at TP1, sell 2 Micros; at TP2, sell 2 Micros; continue until you have sold 10 Micros across 5 TPs.
   • Short trade example: at TP1, buy 2 Micros; at TP2, buy 2 Micros; continue to 10 Micros.

3. If the final TP or the stop hits first, flatten everything.

Why it works
You hold the E-mini for simplicity, but Micros let you simulate partial exits.

Notes
• Use limit orders for exact fills.
• Place your Micro orders at the same prices as the plan’s TPs.
• If liquidity is thin in Micros for a given market, work your orders.

Palladium future example for the math and plan discipline

A plan from our investingLive.com Telegram channel (come and join see the trade ideas live), four targets.

Long Palladium (PA futures or your CFD)
• 1st buy: 1437 filled
• 2nd buy: 1425 pending
• 3rd buy: 1412.5 pending
• Stop: 1390
• TP1: 1470
• TP2: 1562
• TP3: 1584.5
• TP4: 1636

All entries are equal size.
Weighted average entry: 1424.83
Risk per contract: 34.83 points

Potential gains from average entry
• TP1: +45.17 pts → RR 1.3
• TP2: +137.17 pts → RR 3.9
• TP3: +159.67 pts → RR 4.6
• TP4: +211.17 pts → RR 6.1

Blended RR with equal target weights: 4.0

How to apply the micro idea
Palladium does not have a common Micro future, but the discipline still applies. If you trade a product that does have Micros, use Method A or Method B to ensure TP1 is taken and the stop can move to entry on the remainder. If you use CFDs, replicate the same logic by sizing down at each TP.

NQ range example to show sizing logic

If your three buy orders are at 25,500, 25,450, and 25,400, that is a 100-point ladder. With an E-mini NQ, 100 points is large for many small accounts. With Micros it is one tenth the monetary swing. The point range is the same, but the dollar value per point is smaller. That makes it practical to cast a net of buys over a wide range without oversizing and still take multiple partial profits.

Common questions

What if I only want three partials
Use the same methods, but scale 3, 3, 4 Micros, or 4, 3, 3 Micros across three targets.

What if my first fill is late
Base the switch to Micros on the next achieved TP. The principle is the same. Book something and maintain the plan.

What if slippage is a concern
Use resting limit orders at TP prices. For newsy markets, consider bracket orders or reduce the number of partials.

Risk management reminders

• After TP1 is reached, cancel unfilled entries and move the stop to the entry on the remainder, as per our default trade-management rule.
• Match your Micro size to the plan. Do not add leverage by accident.
• Never skip TP1 because of position size constraints. Use Micros to execute the plan as designed.

Quick reference

• 1 E-mini equals about 10 Micros in notional exposure.
• Method A converts at TP1 and scales out Micros.
• Method B hedges with Micros while holding the E-mini.
• Always place Micro orders at the same target prices as the plan.
• The goal is to keep the methodology intact, even with small accounts.

Most importantly, even if you are paying slightly more commissions when trading 10 micro contracts vs. 1 emini, your trading can become so much better with 10 micros since you will be able to plan and take PARTIAL PROFITS, which is critical and is a key part of the tradeCompass method.